The Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis has been rated at 10 percent prior to December 21, 2019 and at 20 percent since then. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating for either period.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations provided findings that did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, with no findings of forward flexion to 30 degrees or less since December 21, 2019.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine spondylosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20080547
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,011 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20080547.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,An increased rating of 30 percent, but no higher, is granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) from February 1, 2020.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for lumbar spine spondylosis was denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.,Service connection for cervical spine disability, left foot disability (hallux valgus), GERD, headache disability, and hypertension were all denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating of lumbar spine spondylosis was denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis and degenerative disc disease, right hip degenerative arthritis, and right knee condition as secondary to his service-connected depression.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis as aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with degenerative arthritis, and also granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the degenerative joint disease from April 18, 2024.
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